Distance: 14.0 km (10.0 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Moderate terrain
Altitude: 611m to 1629m. Gain: 1505m. Loss: 1644m . Gradient: 13 deg (Moderate-hard)
Skills: Occasional scrambles (3/7) Winter - Iceaxe/crampons (4/7)

Unmarked route, clear (7/9)
Unmarked route, follows obvious geography (river, spur, trail, etc)

Secondary, unmapped (4/5)
Route not on maps, an alternative recognised access to hut or along range / catchment

Moderate-hard (difficulty: 4/5)
Continuous moderate climbs

Moderate (difficulty: 3/5)
Low scrub in open or bush / river rocks

Occasional scrambles (difficulty: 3/7)
Tramp with some scrambles and exposure to falls

None (difficulty: 1/6)
No unbridged river crossings

Iceaxe/crampons (difficulty: 4/7)
Ice axe and crampons required in winter

A good tops route connect Stony Stream and Tutu Huts.

From Stony Stream Biv a roughly cut route provides access west to the base of the spur and up through initial broom to clearer faces above. Once out of the broom a simple if persistent climb leads to the ridgeline west of the hut. Travel south to pt1416 is straight forward on the broad ridge with a few brief scrambles. A smooth stable descent leads to the saddle between Stony and Castle streams, followed by a steep 300m climb on loose scree, rock and fine powder to reach pt1581. From there a good broad ridgeline and easy climb lead to the highpoint at pt1651.

The ridgeline south of pt1651 is generally broad and easy travel but narrows to a crumbling knife-edge in two places (sth of pt1608 and between pt1554 & pt1435) and requiring brief sidles on the eastern side. I had snow, which helped these steep sidles - it may be trickier without.

Beyond pt1435 travel is straight forward and the ridgeline broad and safe. Potential campspots exist in the lee of the ridge just sth of pt1376 - if you have access to water. Dropping west of pt1376 a steady climb leads over pt1585, and a long steady descent over pt147-0 and 1416. At the third high-point on pt1416 a spur can be located dropping SSE to the forks 50m above Tutu Hut. Travel down the steep-at-time spur is easy to the bushedge. Below that a series of clearings are connected by vague, scrubby deer trails. At the lower end it may be easier to drop to the creek rather than continue down the scrubby spur.

Tutu Hut is in a clearing, visible from the creek and should be hard to miss.

7-12 hrs

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

No description